Neck pain can arise from several factors, including:

• Poor Posture: Prolonged periods of sitting or slouching, especially during computer usage.

• Muscle Strain: Tension from sleeping in an awkward position or overexerting neck muscles.

• Injuries: Whiplash from car accidents or sports-related injuries.

• Structural Issues: Degenerative diseases like arthritis or herniated discs.

• Stress: Emotional stress can lead to muscle tension and tightness in the neck.

Neck pain is often linked to headaches, including tension headaches and migraines. The muscles in the neck and upper back play a significant role in maintaining head position and stability. When these muscles become tense or strained, they can refer pain to the head, resulting in:

• Tension Headaches: Caused by muscle tightness and tension in the neck and scalp.

• Cervicogenic Headaches: Arising from dysfunction in the cervical spine, often due to neck injury or degeneration.

• Migraines: While not solely caused by neck pain, muscle tension in the neck can trigger migraines in susceptible individuals.

Neck pain can be categorised into different types, including:

• Acute Neck Pain: Sudden and often caused by injury or strain, typically lasting a few days to weeks.

• Chronic Neck Pain: Persistent pain that lasts for more than three months, often linked to underlying conditions.

• Radicular Pain: Pain that radiates down the arms, indicating nerve involvement.

Proper diagnosis of neck pain is essential to determine the underlying cause. Our holistic and integrative approach may include:

• Health History Assessment: Discussing symptoms and medical history.

• Physical Examination: We’ll do a full orthopaedic and neurological assessment. Evaluating neck mobility (range of motion), strength, reflexes; and conduct a digital postural assessment

• Diagnostic Imaging: In certain cases, we may recommend X-rays or MRIs to investigate structural issues. We will refer you to a local radiography clinic for that if it’s required.

Chiropractors are experts in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal issues. Sandy and Kristin are 5 year Tertiary (Bachelors & Masters) trained; and Lucy is 7 years (Bachelors, Masters, Post Graduate) trained. Collectively we have 30+ years of clinical experience and additional annual training to ensure we always up to date with latest evidence based practices. We take a holistic, integrative approach to neck pain management searching for the root cause of your problem. Our team at Nomad Chiropractic utilizes gentle techniques such as:

• Sacro Occipital Technique: A gentle method focusing on alignment and balance.

• Diversified Technique: A common chiropractic method that promotes proper spinal alignment. (Every Chiropractor learns this at uni over a 5 year period- also colloquially known as “manual” adjusting. ie with our hands. We are the only health professionals with specific spinal adjusting training of this level.

• Thompson Technique: A technique that uses a drop table to facilitate gentle adjustments.

• Advanced Biostructural Technique: a specific chiropractic protocol to identify misalignments and facilitate optimal movement, allowing the body to heal itself naturally.

With personalised care, tailored to each individual, we aim to alleviate pain, restore function, and enhance overall health.

Our mission is to support your body in healing naturally, helping you break free from the cycle of chronic pain and dysfunction.

Our goal is to help you to find the root cause of your symptom or sign; and of course to alleviate it.

We want to help you to thrive.

So we will discuss our phases of care. From immediate pain relief & symptom management, to resolution of underlying causes; and finally into maintenance and health optimisation.

We will meet you where you're at. And the type of care you'd like is entirely up to you.

Recommendations are evidence based and unique to you.

1. Neck Tilt Stretch: Gently tilt your head towards one shoulder, hold for 15-30 seconds, and repeat on the other side.

2. Chin Tucks: While sitting or standing, pull your chin towards your chest while keeping your shoulders relaxed. Hold for 5 seconds, then release.

3. Shoulder Rolls: Roll your shoulders forward and backward in a circular motion to release tension.

• Get adjusted by a neck pain chiropractor!

• Heat Therapy: Applying a warm compress can help relax tight muscles.

• Cold Therapy: Using an ice pack may reduce inflammation if the pain is acute.

• Essential Oils: Oils like peppermint or lavender can provide soothing relief when massaged into the neck.

• Arnica or Traumeel Ointments: may help to heal and soothe soft tissue damage

Maintaining good posture can help alleviate neck pain and prevent future discomfort. Here are some exercises designed to strengthen muscles and promote better posture:

1. Wall Angels

2. Chest Stretch

3. Seated Neck Release

4. Cat-Cow Stretch

5. Plank

6. Shoulder Blade Squeeze